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KDE 3.0 Release Plan Updated
loopkin noted that the dot is running a bit about the KDE 3 Release. Here's
the release schedule,
and as you can see, the upcoming weeks will be interesting. I guess
I should figure out why my truetype fonts all broke on a recent
update to debian unstable so that
I can actually enjoy the new releases :)
The KDE release timing has absolutely nothing to do with Gnome. Take a look at the 3.0 release plan -- it's been like this since at least last September. In fact, I wish KDE had got 3.0 out sooner - it was originally supposed to just be a port of KDE 2.2 to Qt 3, but some new features have snuck in. These range from the productive (much faster html processing, better dcop architecture), to the useful (much improved javascript support), to the useful and pretty (better file selection dialog), to the pretty and useless (alpha blending / transparent menus), to the totally useless (animated mimetype icons).
-- Help Digitise the Public Domain at DP.
(win95,win98,winME,winXP - all bugfixes for win3.1)
Damn, you're a fucking moron.
Yeah, the AC is right - what the hell did they fix?? ;)
(the awesome power or the winking face should negate most of the flamebait effect)
sic transit gloria mundi
On area I think KDE really excels is with kioslaves, which allow *any* KDE application access 'files' by a wide variety of means.i ma p4*nntp*sftp*tar
*audiocd*samba*filesystem*ftp*gopher*gzip*http*
To list but afew in the CVS.
Plus people's homebrewed slaves:
*shell commands*Nomad Jukebox*Digital camera*deleted files*over ssh
for example.
This can give rise to many useful applicatons. All KDE graphics programs instantly able to grab pictures off digital camera. Ripping CD by just dragging icons in the file browser. Seemless network browsing, just like Network Neighbourhood in Windows (ok, takes abit of setting up to work properly).
Does gnome do anything similar. I know there is gnome-vfs, although haven't looked into what it does in too much detail.
I care. There's a lot of things going on behind the scenes for Gnome 2. Gnome 2 is a major redesign. If you noticed, the sheer number of compound document/corba/etc architectures that appeared and died in the 1.0->1.2->1.4 cycle could only result in chaos.
Gnome 2 is a big, big clean-up and for the first time Gnome will provide a stable, mature and reliable development architecture. KDE has had this since KDE 2, and just like KDE took off in terms of application and accessory development since the KDE 2 release, Gnome app development will take off once Gnome 2 is out.
Let me explain: The major part of an environment like Gnome or KDE is not what is visible to the user, but the framework. Things like DCOP or KIO in KDE, orbit and bonobo in Gnome. If you want a pretty desktop with nifty features, all you have to do is write some applications which is minor work compared to designing and implementing an application interoperation framework. What was done for Gnome 1.4->2.0 was a complete framework rehaul. What was done in KDE 2.0->3.0 was mostly application development.
I do agree that Gnome 2 is late. They should have ditched 1.4 and gone for 2.0 immediately after the 1.2 release, as the user-visible changes were minor. IMO.
BTW, Gtk 2 offers more than just AA. It's also a completely new text rendering engine (Pango) that kicks the ass of everything else out there.
As a reply to the comment on broken TrueType fonts on new Debian versions, I'd like to say that this happens on many other distros. The new RedHat 7.2 exhibited the same lower TrueType rendering quality over 7.1 as the new Debian. This is due to three patents that Apple filed concerning interpretation of TrueType bytecodes that are used for hinting small size characters. The FreeType project introduced in a configuration header a directive to disable/enable the patented bytecode interpreter. It comes disabled by default. Turning it on and recompiling may be considered infringement of Apple's patents if you haven't licensed them.
Anyway, for those who can legally use it (ie. you don't live in the USA or have licensed Apple's patents), I've compiled FreeType with the patented bytecode interpreter enabled and made a RedHat 7.2 RPM which is available right here. This drastically improves the readability of antialiased fonts. Enjoy!